Pedal operated control for electric fishing motors

ABSTRACT

A pedal control for electric outboard fishing motors having a first motor for driving the propeller and a second motor for rotating the propeller support for steering. A single pedal is mounted for selective engagement with an on-off switch for the propeller drive motor and forward and reverse switches for the steering motor and is mounted on a control unit which may be easily carried about a boat for a remote control. The unit includes speed control and directional elements which may be foot-actuated.

ZOO/86.5 ZOO/86.5 ZOO/86.5 114/144 115/18 115/18 XX 55 66 88 ml 0% 223,023,344 2/1962 Owings......................... 3,118,123 1/1964Sweetetal.....

3,287,520 I 1/1966 Stevens et al..

3,466,41 l 9/1969 Martin......

3,467,798 9/1969 Krieger...

2,583,059 1/1952 Neville 2,804,838 9/1957 Moser.... 2,877,733 3/1959Harris...........,..............

Primary Examiner-J. R. Scott Attorney-Mann, Brown, McWilliams & BradwayI United States Patent 72] inventor Ralph C. Osborn Bloolnlngton, Ill.[21] Appl. No. 873,187

Nov. 3, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 10, 1971 Assignee Asborn EngineeringCorporation [54] PEDAL OPERATED CONTROL FOR ELECTRIC FISHING MOTORS 7Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[22 Filed A pedal control for electric outboard fishing motors having afirst motor for driving the propeller and a d motor for rotating thepropeller support for steering. A single pedal is mounted for selectiveengagement with an onoff switch for the propeller drive motor andforward and reverse switches for the steering motor and is mounted on acontrol unit which may be easily carried about a boat for a q I. m T o CM c T n w s 0 i w m A S r. R R 8/ 8 m uw 05 0 0100M 2 "2; s u n/ S WM MRT "4 N m mm m Wm M W S m mm m mm mA m mm T m I m W Rm u mh m W m L :J uD t U mm H m r U 55 U The unit includes speed control and 200/59 (Bldirectional elements which may be foot-actuated.

1,664,552 4/1928 Hammond,Jr...............

PEDAL OPERATED CONTROL FOR ELECTRIC FISHING MOTORS and changing thedirection of thrust of the propeller for steering purposes.

Moser U.S. Pat. No. 2,804,838 illustrates an electric outboard motor ofthe foregoing type having three pedals which are foot-operated so as tocontrol on-oft', forward and reverse switches for the directionalcontrol motor and an on-off switch for the driving motor." The presentinvention is directed to improvements in a pedal control for controllingsuch steering and on-off switches.

The major purposes of the present invention are to form a simplified andinexpensive pedal control assembly for effecting both steering of a boatand propulsion thereof and in such a way that the user of the controlmay position the control at any location within a boat and have fullcontrol of propulsion, steering and speed with simple foot or handmovements.

These and other purposes will become more apparent in the course of theensuing specification and claims when taken with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a typical electric outboard motorassembly provided with the control of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a steering motor arrangement forthe assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the pedal controlsubassembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the pedal subassembly illustrated in FIG. 3while looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the pedal subassembly illustrated in FIGS.[-4 and looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the pedal illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a detail view of certain switch elements used in the pedalcontrol; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the pedal control assembly illustrated in FIG.I.

Like elements are designated by like characters throughout thespecification and drawings.

With specific reference to the drawings, and in the first instance toFIG. I, the numeral I0 designates a supporting column or shaft for anelectric drive motor II at the lower end thereof. Motor I1 is abattery-operated DC motor and may be a permanent magnet motor. Theoutput shaft of motor I1 is adapted to rotate a propeller 12. The column10 is supported on a bracket assembly 13 which is in turn pivotallymounted upon a cradle I4. Cradle 14 is adapted to be clamped to aportion ofa fishing boat, as for example the gunwale.

A pedal control subassembly generally designated at 15 has a cable 16adapted to be connected to battery terminals and a cable I7 leadingthrough a housing 18 on the upper portion of shaft 10 and through theshaft 10 to the drive motor II and to a steering motor positioned withinthe bracket 13. The control assembly 15 includes a pedal control portion18 and a housing I9 fixed thereto, which housing provides operativecircuit connections between certain switches carried by pedal portionI8, cables I6 and 17, and a speed controlling rheostat for motor 11. Anactuating knob for the rheostat is illustrated at 20. The controlhousing 19 may include a reversing switch 21 for motor I I and acombined light and heating element 210.

The housing 19 extends upwardly above the pedal portion 18 so that theactuating knob 20. switch 21 and element 2la face the operator when theoperator has his foot on the pedal portion I8. Switch 2I and element 2Iaare above the knob 20.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a steering arrangement wherein areversible direct current steering motor 22 is used to rotate shaft I0and thus change the direction of thrust of the propeller 12 for steeringpurposes. Motor 22 is supported within the housing bracket 13 and has apinion 23 on its output shaft in driving engagement with a gear 24 heldby a hub 25 which is keyed to the shaft 10. It should be understood thatthe illustration of the steering motor housing bracket, cradle,supporting shaft, motors and propeller illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2should be taken as generally representative of motor driven andmotor-steered electric outboard motors of the type known to the art andto which the present pedal control assembly is applied.

In accordance with the present invention the pedal unit 18 illustratedin FIG. 1 includes a base 26 and a movable pedal 27 mounted on the base.Both base 26 and pedal 27 are generally rectangular when viewed from thetop. Base 26 is generally triangular in cross section as viewed from theside (as illustrated in FIG. 3). Base 26 is defined by a lower flatplate 28, sidewalls 29a and 2%. an inclined upper wall 30, and a forwardwall 3]. The forward wall 31 and sidewalls 29a and 29b of the base maybe formed as downwardly directed extensions of the upper wall 30 and asa single casting. The lower plate 28 may have a rubber pad 28a attachedto the lower surface thereof.

Pedal 27 may have a series of parallel ribs formed in the upper surfacesthereof as is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 to minimize foot slippagethereon. Pedal 27 is mounted on base 26 in spaced relation to the uppersurface of wall 30 by means of a pin 32 carried within a downwardlyprojecting boss 33 on pedal 27. Pin 32 is received through an enlargedaperture 34 in the upper wall 30. Boss 33 has a lower surface which isspherically formed for a bearing engagement with the portion of the wall30 around aperture 34. A coil spring 35 surrounds this pin beneath thewall 30 and extends beneath the undersurface of the wall 30 and anabutment 36 on the lower end of the pin. Spring 35 biases pedal 27toward a position where pin 32 is perpendicular to wall 30 while pedal27 is equally spaced from wall 30 on opposite sides of the pin. Theloose connection between pin 32 and the aperture 34 allows swingingmovement of pedal 27 generally about a transverse axis directed throughthe point designated at P in FIG. 3. The enlarged aperture also allowsrocking movement or tilting movement in the direction of the arrowsillustrated in FIG. 5 and generally about an axis extending parallel tothe longitudinal axis of pedal 27. The front end of pedal 27 has adownwardly projecting guide projection 38. The lower portion of thisguide projection has a slot 39 within which is received a pin 40 whichis carried by the downwardly directed wall portion 31. The pin and slotconnection thus provided prevents pivotal movement of the pedal 27 aboutthe axis of pin 32 while allowing the swinging movement and tilting orrocking movement aforementioned.

The upper wall 30 of base 26 carries a first pushbutton onoff switch 41for motor 11 and second and third directional and energizing switches 42and 43. Each of these switches includes a pushbutton actuating arm 44(FIG. 7) and these actuating arms are preferably covered with a rubberdomelike cover 45. The actuating arm 44 of switch 41 includes an upperflange 44a which abuts against the opposed rim 44b of support 44c in theclosed position of the switch. Downward swinging movement of the pedalis thus limited by the abutment of the flange of the switch arm with therim 44b. In either the lower position or upper position of the pedalrocking movement of the pedal may take place about an axis extendinggenerally between the top of arm 44 of switch 41 and the center ofcurvature of the lower surface of boss 33. The actuating arm 44 of eachswitch M, 42 and 43 is spring biased toward an upper positioncorresponding to a normal unenergized position. One of the switches 42is connected in the circuit to the steering motor 22 for rotation of themotor in one direction while the other switch 43 is connected in thecircuit of the steering motor 22 for rotation of the motor in theopposite direction. It should be understood that the switch casings 46for each of the switches 41, 42 and 43 are connected through suitableelectrical leads (not shown) to the control box 19 for appropriateelectrical connection between cables 16 and 17 to their associatedmotors. Wiring connections between an onoff switch for the drive motorand between directional switches for a steering motor are known to theart and for this reason they are not illustrated herein.

It is preferable to locate the switch 41 forwardly of the twodirectional switches 42 and 43.

The undersurface of pedal 27 includes a downwardly directed boss 48which is located directly above switch 41, while bosses 49 of shorterextent are positioned directly above each of the switches 42 and 43.Thus, upon simple swinging movement of pedal 27 about the axis P, switch41 will be actuated while switches 42 and 43 are not. In this regard,simple downward swinging movement of pedal 27 about the axis P islimited by abutment of the flange 44a of switch 41 with the rim 44b ofthat switch. Spring 35 helps to maintain the pedal 27 in equally spacedrelation to the switches 42 and 43 during such movement. Switches 42 and43 may also have similar limit abutments but they are not necessary aslong as the engagement between pin 32 and the wall of the aperture 34limit rocking movement to an amount slightly greater than that necessaryto actuate one of the switches 42 or 43.

Rocking movement of the pedal about the longitudinally extending axisaforementioned enables one boss 49 or the other to contact itsassociated switch. At the same time this may be accompanied by downwardswinging movement about the axis P depending upon manipulation of theoperator's foot to the extent of actuating switch 41. The abutment inswitch 41, together with the abutment of pin 32 with the wall ofaperture 34 limits the downward movement and prevents actuation of bothswitches 42 and 43 at the same time. For example, the compound movementmay be such as to actuate switch 43 and 41 (FIG. but the support is suchthat the other boss cannot contact its switch 42 unless pedal 27 isrocked out of contacting engagement with switch 43. The return springsin the switches and spring 35 bias the pedal toward the upper,deenergized position illustrated in FIG. 3.

It should be understood that the bosses 49 may be eliminated altogetheras long as the spatial relation between the pedal and the switches issuch as to allow selective operation of the switches as described. Alsoboss 48 may be eliminated while switch 41 is made so that the actuatingarm 44 projects to a greater height above wall 30 than the switches 42and 43. In this event, switch 41 is also actuated by simple swingingmovement about axis P with the abutment in the switch 41 preventingsufficient downward movement to actuate both of the switches 42 and 43at the same time while allowing actuation of one or the other of theswitches 42 and 43 through rocking movement in one direction or theother.

The important thing is that when pedal 27 closes switch 41, a rockingaxis for the pedal is established while the pedal 27 is not depressedfar enough to actuate either switch 42 or 43 as long as the oppositesides of the pedal are spaced equidistantly from the upper wall 30.

The face 190 of the control housing which carries the actuating knob 20,switch 21 and element 21a, extends from a point immediately forward ofthe pedal 27 to a position spaced thereabove, whereupon these elementsare positioned above the pedal. This face is inclined to the uppersurface of the pedal as shown in FIG. 8. Knob is positioned on this faceso that the lower side surface is coincident with or a short distanceabove the plane of the upper surface of the pedal whereby the toe of ausers foot positioned on the pedal may frictionally engage thecylindrical side surface of knob 20 and rotate the same and therebychange the resistance value of the rheostat. The rheostat is in serieswith the windings of the motor 11 so that a change in its resistancechanges the voltage and speed of the motor.

The cylindrical surface of knob 20 may be provided with ribs or otherfrictional means to enhance use by the operator's foot.

The particular pedal control herein illustrated is simple and economicalto manufacture. The user of a pedal assembly, as

described herein, can easily control both the energization of the boatdriving propeller and the direction of its thrust with his foot in thesame overall position on the pedal. A simple downward movement of thetoe of his foot will energize switch 41 to energize drive motor 11.Rocking movement of the foot in the same overall position and to oneside or another will actuate switch 42 or 43 to energize motor 22 forrotation in the proper direction to bring about the desired direction ofthrust of propeller 12. The control assembly is easily carried about theboat and may be positioned at any convenient location in the boat.

At any position the operator has full control of the steering, speed andpropulsion of the boat. Since the actuating knob 20 of the rheostat andthe directional switch 21 are positioned above the pedal 27, theactuating knob 20 and switch 21 are easily manipulated by the operator.Knob 20 may be manipulated by the toe of the users foot positioned onthe pedal at the same time that the operator is using pedal 27 tocontrol propulsion and steering. The reversing switch 21 may be moved byfoot pressure, although the operator must disengage his foot from pedal27 to do this. The controls may of course be manipulated by hand.

The unitary and compact nature of the controls together with thepositioning of the various parts for foot operation is a greatconvenience to a fisherman having both hands occupied by fishingvSwitches 41, 42 and 43 may be single-pole single-throw switches althoughit is preferred that switches 42 and 43 be double pole, single throwsnap acting switches to insure positive action and minimize arcing.

lclaim:

1. In an electric outboard fishing motor drive of the type having afirst electric motor carried by a shaft and adapted when energized torotate a propeller carried by said shaft and a second motor carried by asupport for said shaft and formed and adapted when energized to rotatethe shaft about the axis thereof for steering purposes, the improvementcomprising a pedal operating assembly for controlling said motors, saidpedal assembly including a base and a pedal, means mounting said pedalon said base for swinging movement of said pedal about one end of saidbase and toward and away from the other end of said base and for tiltingmovement toward one side or another of said base, a first pushbuttonswitch carried by said base and having an actuating arm positioned abovethe surface of said base for actuation by the undersurface of said pedalupon said swinging movement of said pedal toward said base, and secondand third switches mounted on said base and having actuating armsextending above the upper surface of said base for selective engagementwith the undersurface of said pedal upon said tilting movement of saidpedal, said first switch being a start-stop switch for said first motorand adapted to energize said motor when actuated, said second and thirdswitches being connected to forward and reverse energizing circuits forsaid second motor so that when one is actuated said second motor rotatessaid shaft in one direction while upon actuation of the other saidsecond motor is operated to turn said shaft in the other direction, theactuating arms of said second and third switches projecting above saidbase to generally uniform spacings from the undersurface of said pedal,the actuating arm of said first switch being spaced more closely to anundersurface portion of said pedal in the deactivated position thereofthan said second and third switches, said first, second and thirdswitches and actuating arms therefor being located near the other end ofsaid base, and limit abutment means to limit the pedals downwardswinging movement and rocking movement to one side or the other wherebysaid first switch may be actuated along with actuation of a single oneof the said second and third switches through combined swinging andtilting movement of said pedal without allowing simultaneous actuationof both of said second and third switches.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said pedal is swingably and tiltablymounted on said base by a pin carried by said pedal and loosely receivedwithin an aperture in said base.

3. The structure of claim 2 characterized by and including a springsurrounding an end of said pin projecting through said aperture in saidbase and extending between an undersurface of said base and an abutmenton the end of said pin.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said abutment means is defined insaid first switch and by said pin and aperture.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said pedal has a depending slottedguide on the end thereof remote from said pin and said base has a pinreceived within the slot of said guide to thereby provide support forthat end of said pedal.

6. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a speedcontrol housing carried by the other end of said base, said speedcontrol housing having a rheostat therein for controlling the speed ofsaid first electric motor, said housing projecting above said pedal andhaving an actuating element therefor positioned above said pedal forselective operation thereof by an operator foot positioned on saidpedal.

7. In an electric outboard fishing motor drive of the type having afirst electric motor carried by a shaft and adapted when energized torotate a propeller carried by said shaft and a second motor carried by asupport for said shaft and formed and adapted when energized to rotatethe shaft about the axis thereof for steering purposes. the improvementcomprising a pedal-operating assembly for controlling said motors, saidpedal assembly including a base and a pedal, means mounting said pedalon said base for swinging movement of said pedal about one end of saidbase and toward the other end of said base and for tilting movementtoward one side or another of said base, switch means carried by saidbase for selective operation by said pedal upon swinging and tiltingmovement thereof to start and stop said first electric motor and toselectively operate said second motor for steering purposes, said basecarrying a speed control housing at the other end of said base andprojecting upwardly above said base, said speed control housingincluding a rheostat therein and having an outer wall facing said pedaland extending upwardly in inclined relation thereto, said housingincluding an operating element for said rheostat carried by said wall ata location above said pedal whereby the toe of an operator foot on saidpedal may operate said element in any position of said pedal.

1. In an electric outboard fishing motor drive of the type having afirst electric motor carried by a shaft and adapted when energized torotate a propeller carried by said shaft and a second motor carried by asupport for said shaft and formed and adapted when energized to rotatethe shaft about the axis thereof for steering purposes, the improvementcomprising a pedal operating assembly for controlling said motors, saidpedal assembly including a base and a pedal, means mounting said pedalon said base foR swinging movement of said pedal about one end of saidbase and toward and away from the other end of said base and for tiltingmovement toward one side or another of said base, a first pushbuttonswitch carried by said base and having an actuating arm positioned abovethe surface of said base for actuation by the undersurface of said pedalupon said swinging movement of said pedal toward said base, and secondand third switches mounted on said base and having actuating armsextending above the upper surface of said base for selective engagementwith the undersurface of said pedal upon said tilting movement of saidpedal, said first switch being a start-stop switch for said first motorand adapted to energize said motor when actuated, said second and thirdswitches being connected to forward and reverse energizing circuits forsaid second motor so that when one is actuated said second motor rotatessaid shaft in one direction while upon actuation of the other saidsecond motor is operated to turn said shaft in the other direction, theactuating arms of said second and third switches projecting above saidbase to generally uniform spacings from the undersurface of said pedal,the actuating arm of said first switch being spaced more closely to anundersurface portion of said pedal in the deactivated position thereofthan said second and third switches, said first, second and thirdswitches and actuating arms therefor being located near the other end ofsaid base, and limit abutment means to limit the pedal''s downwardswinging movement and rocking movement to one side or the other wherebysaid first switch may be actuated along with actuation of a single oneof the said second and third switches through combined swinging andtilting movement of said pedal without allowing simultaneous actuationof both of said second and third switches.
 2. The structure of claim 1wherein said pedal is swingably and tiltably mounted on said base by apin carried by said pedal and loosely received within an aperture insaid base.
 3. The structure of claim 2 characterized by and including aspring surrounding an end of said pin projecting through said aperturein said base and extending between an undersurface of said base and anabutment on the end of said pin.
 4. The structure of claim 3 whereinsaid abutment means is defined in said first switch and by said pin andaperture.
 5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said pedal has a dependingslotted guide on the end thereof remote from said pin and said base hasa pin received within the slot of said guide to thereby provide supportfor that end of said pedal.
 6. The structure of claim 1 characterized byand including a speed control housing carried by the other end of saidbase, said speed control housing having a rheostat therein forcontrolling the speed of said first electric motor, said housingprojecting above said pedal and having an actuating element thereforpositioned above said pedal for selective operation thereof by anoperator foot positioned on said pedal.
 7. In an electric outboardfishing motor drive of the type having a first electric motor carried bya shaft and adapted when energized to rotate a propeller carried by saidshaft and a second motor carried by a support for said shaft and formedand adapted when energized to rotate the shaft about the axis thereoffor steering purposes, the improvement comprising a pedal-operatingassembly for controlling said motors, said pedal assembly including abase and a pedal, means mounting said pedal on said base for swingingmovement of said pedal about one end of said base and toward the otherend of said base and for tilting movement toward one side or another ofsaid base, switch means carried by said base for selective operation bysaid pedal upon swinging and tilting movement thereof to start and stopsaid first electric motor and to selectively operate said second motorfor steering purposes, said base carrying a speed control housing at theother end of said base and pRojecting upwardly above said base, saidspeed control housing including a rheostat therein and having an outerwall facing said pedal and extending upwardly in inclined relationthereto, said housing including an operating element for said rheostatcarried by said wall at a location above said pedal whereby the toe ofan operator foot on said pedal may operate said element in any positionof said pedal.